Publishers talk about Apple's tablet

[Sonist]

Some more rumors, which may be interesting to some. For the cheapscates, this might be exciting: "... it isn't going to cost anywhere near $1000."

Publishers talk about Apple's tablet

"We had a chance to speak with a few friends in the publishing business last week. Both work in Manhattan for companies not previously quoted by the Wall St. Journal or Bloomberg but who were recently contacted by Apple with tablet information in the past two weeks. Here's what they've both corroborated:

* Apple has been moving very aggressively over the past month and has stepped it up since the event announcement last week. Both said they'd be surprised if Apple doesn't have a deal of some sort worked out by launch. This wouldn't necessarily be a nuts-and-bolts type of deal, but one where they agree to work together. Apple can say at the event we've signed up "all of the major publishers".
* Apple has been pitching itself against Amazon's model specifically to the publishers. Apple's "Agency model" gives publishers more control and freedom for pricing vs. Amazon who've recently restructured a small part of their publisher offering to compete with this surge by Apple. We received the exact same wording from both people so we think this is the type of thing that Apple is touting to all publishers. We might hear about "the Agency Model" vs. Kindle's at the event.
* Scrollmotion, the biggest current book contributor to the App Store, isn't part of this deal and Apple is dealing directly with the publishers who are already signed up with Scrollmotion. The deals would cut Scrollmotion out of the loop or as one exec put it: "The smaller outfits are going to get screwed". We've reached out to Scrollmotion for comment and will report back anything we hear.
* Apple was looking for content to bring to the event -- perhaps one example -- but doesn't expect to have large libraries of material in their book store until "mid 2010 at the very earliest"
* Separately, one source said that no prototypes were brought to the meetings, but the tablet was described as "a very-readable 10-inch glass screen smaller in size than the Kindle DX with a similar weight." The Apple people also mentioned that the "software was the key to the experience and it would be the game changer". Apple also made the analogy of the shift from B&W televisions to Color with respect to the Kindle vs. the Tablet.
* One other big thing: They say it isn't going to cost anywhere near $1000 as has been reported elsewhere.

Remember, the EBook reading functionality is just one part of this device. The tablet is also expected to be a game playing, media watching, netbook-competing powerhouse as well.

..."

Also, TechCrunch claims that Steve Jobs has been heard saying that the Apple tablet "will be the most important thing I've ever done."

[pholy]

Also, TechCrunch claims that Steve Jobs has been heard saying that the Apple tablet "will be the most important thing I've ever done."

And the Newton was the most important thing he has ever un-done...

grumble, grumble, grrr

[Randolphlalonde]

I hope it's powerful enough to use something like a basic version of photoshop on as well. I know a dozen artists who are salivating at having an eBook / browser / doodle tablet from the big Apple.

[SCION]

Originally Posted by Sonist

Remember, the EBook reading functionality is just one part of this device. The tablet is also expected to be a game playing, media watching, netbook-competing powerhouse as well...."

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by Sonist

* One other big thing: They say it isn't going to cost anywhere near $1000 as has been reported elsewhere.

Oh noes.... it's going to cost $2500!

All this is bunk... I'll believe it when I hear it from Apple.

BOb

[chainring]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Oh noes.... it's going to cost $2500!

All this is bunk... I'll believe it when I hear it from Apple.

BOb

Exactly the thing I keep reiterating, time and time again. Apple is very good at their strategy of exciting the masses, but without releasing exacting bits of information. Will the tablet be revolutionary? Doubtful, but it will likely be an evolution of existing products that's been scrutinized to the Nth degree. Apple products may not be for everyone, but it's difficult to deny they obsess over every detail to make their stuff very polished.

[Moejoe]

Gizmodo are reporting on an NYT article that states:

It will run all the applications of the iPhone and iPod Touch, have a persistent wireless connection over 3G cellphone networks and Wi-Fi, and will be built with a 10-inch color display, allowing newspapers, magazines and book publishers to deliver their products with an eye to the design that had grabbed readers in print.

Gizmodo article: http://gizmodo.com/5456940/nyt-the-a...pps-still-work

And if anybody in the UK is interested, the Apple event kicks of Wed 27th Jan at 6pm GMT.

[HarryT]

One important question is whether it'll initially be US-only, or a world-wide launch. The "3G" aspect of it probably implies dependencies on deals with telecoms operators; that was what delayed the international launch of the Kindle for so long.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by Sonist

* One other big thing: They say it isn't going to cost anywhere near $1000 as has been reported elsewhere.

Originally Posted by HarryT

One important question is whether it'll initially be US-only, or a world-wide launch. The "3G" aspect of it probably implies dependencies on deals with telecoms operators; that was what delayed the international launch of the Kindle for so long.

Which could explain why "they" say it isn't going to cost anywhere near the $1000 mark... You only have to sign over your soul to a telco... (at least that part that you didn't sell to Apple yet...)

[EowynCarter]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Oh noes.... it's going to cost $2500!

All this is bunk... I'll believe it when I hear it from Apple.

BOb

We don't if the tablet even exists, far less anything on it.

[Moejoe]

Do we now have a cost on the mythical tablet? Macrumours seems to think so

According to a (now deleted) tweet by major German electronics retailer Media Markt, the Apple iPad will go on sale March 1st at a price of 499 Euros with contract with T-Mobile or 899 Euros without. In U.S. prices this would likely be around $500-$600 U.S. with contract and $999 without. We came to these numbers by comparing similarly priced Apple items sold in Euros and USD (Mac Mini: 549 Euros / $599 USD, MacBook 899 Euros / $999 USD).

http://www.macrumors.com/2010/01/26/...000-march-1st/

Way too rich for my blood.

[stustaff]

Originally Posted by Moejoe

Do we now have a cost on the mythical tablet? Macrumours seems to think so



http://www.macrumors.com/2010/01/26/...000-march-1st/

Way too rich for my blood.

€499 on a contract seems ok if its around €20 a month.

€899 also seems fine after all its what I would pay for something taht replaces my laptop... IF it can replace my laptop.

[Guns4Hire]

If that rumor holds any water they aren't going to be revolutionizing anything.

[stustaff]

Originally Posted by Guns4Hire

If that rumor holds any water they aren't going to be revolutionizing anything.

Wasnt the iPhone very expensive for a phone, with much higher monthly fees than other perfectly good phones?

I think that has done ok?

[Guns4Hire]

Originally Posted by stustaff

Wasnt the iPhone very expensive for a phone, with much higher monthly fees than other perfectly good phones?

I think that has done ok?

I think quite a few people were sitting around waiting for that one phone that was going to take that big step up. And Apple did that (or at least convinced a lot of people that they did that).

But not near as many people have been sitting around waiting for a tablet to take that big step. Sure there are plenty waiting for the better tablet but not on the scale of the mobile phone. Least in my opinion.